Post by Vindi (Russell) on Feb 25, 2016 2:07:13 GMT

New forum, new build thread! Thought it made sense to keep one thread going as I seem to go through quite a few cars ... I'll try to do a mini history at some point but I'll start with a summary of where I'm up to at the moment.

Car 1 - 1991 BRG

Got this one in about 2008, and it's gradually been developed more and more into a track car. Currently having a Nickson cage put in, fingers crossed I'll get it back in about a week. I've sold a lot of the Gucci parts, but a summary is something like ...

1991 BRG shell with dropped floors and a welded in Nickson cage

Heated front windscreen

2003 1.8 block, 1999 head

Currently on standard induction ...

Ohlins / Performance 5 suspension

Fully polybushed

1.8 brakes

949 Racing 6UL wheels

RX7 plated diff

Stripped interior

There's a lot of parts missing at the moment ... fingers crossed they will reappear but I'm not that hopeful ... bit annoying to have to buy parts that I already technically own, but life's not all good sometimes!

Car 2 - 1991 Silver

Bought this on valentines day, it's a really solid shell but has a Zetec conversion in place. The car was running, but blew the head so it needs an engine ... the rest is there though, Ford wiring and ECU and an MT75 gearbox with custom prop. The rest is basic 1.6 stuff, and the interior is totally stripped so it needs some work ... the jury is still out on whether I can be bothered to spend the time so it may well appear in the Classifieds section!

Car 3 - 1999 Bronze

Got this hoping to fix it up, but the engine was completely toasted so it's being broken ... unlikely it'll make it back onto the road although I've got an Audi 4.2 V8 I'm not using at the moment ...

Post by Vindi (Russell) on Feb 25, 2016 18:01:51 GMT

What happened to the ITBs etc on the green car (I'm sure that was your car?)

I had Jenvey TBs on the green car, had a frustrating time getting them to idle and lost my rag at Japfest (2014?) so sold them. The car hasn't really run properly since then, it's been NA briefly, supercharged (MP45 and MP62) briefly and turbo as well ... currently got a set of GSXR1000 TBs and a Bogg Brothers manifold that may or may not get fitted.

I'm concentrating on getting the basics on the green car sorted first ... I was so close to selling the whole thing but luckily a few good friends talked me out of it. I did sell just about all the expensive parts though, and a few more bits went missing so I'm having to buy quite a few basic items like gearbox, diff, suspension, manifold, exhaust etc to get it back on the road. Main priority at the moment is the roll cage and a few alterations to the bodywork. Engine is to be confirmed ... really can't make my mind up but there's no rush, I'm busy with other cars at the moment (MG Midget project and another classic) so just doing some thinking and some saving up!

Post by Vindi (Russell) on Feb 26, 2016 23:23:09 GMT

Went to see the car today, roll cage is half in so hopefully will be finished next week. I've got a heated front screen going in once the cage is sprayed, then it should be coming back to me.

I've just pulled the trigger on a set of tyres to go on my huge wheels ... and the reason I need to have huge wheels is to fill my huge arches. They should look amazing ... currently with Painter Dave to tidy them up and make them green. I'm keeping quiet on what they are, but I'll put the pics up here first.

Post by Vindi (Russell) on Feb 29, 2016 1:38:53 GMT

Few pics of the BRG ...

When it was working

Work being done at the moment ...

Hoping it will be back on Friday so I can fit the diff I've built up. After that we'll see, I still need to make some decisions about the engine but I've got a Spridget to mess about in so I'm in no rush to get it back on the road

Post by Vindi (Russell) on Mar 14, 2016 0:59:52 GMT

Got the car back on Friday, so was able to have a proper look around the cage. A few tweaks are needed but essentially I just need to bolt all the bits stacked at the side of the car on in the right places and I'll be done. Gutting that I'm so busy at the moment it's not likely to happen for some time!

Also got the tyres fitted to my new wheels ... bit too much stretch I think, so I'll have to go bigger I think

Post by Vindi (Russell) on Mar 22, 2016 9:45:02 GMT

The car has gone back to the fabricators for a few bits to be tidied up ... so with an empty garage I obviously turn to the internet and start buying stuff! Managed to buy a few bits and pieces for the build, most importantly some suspension to replace my bust Performance 5 stuff. I managed to track down some Ohlins + K One shocks, which look to be custom valved by a race prep company in Japan. The spring rates are unknown but they are Swift springs so fingers crossed they will be ok.

I found two Bride TTM - C seats as well, to replace mine that went missing last year. They are on the way now, hopefully they arrive about the same time the car gets back.

Post by Vindi (Russell) on Mar 23, 2016 19:59:56 GMT

I like the idea of the Audi V8. How does the weight of the engine compare to the standard motor?

Amazingly it's similar! The problem is once you've added 2 exhaust manifolds, the exhaust and a gearbox man enough to handle it there would be some weight penalty. The Lexus V8 setup only adds about 40kg onto the car so this would be maybe 50? Considering the power and torque would be through the roof, it would go very nicely but I'm more worried about the balance

Post by Vindi (Russell) on Apr 8, 2016 21:41:50 GMT

Mini update, the car went back for some more work on the cage so I've been left collecting parts for the rebuild whenever that happens. Managed to get hold of a set of the Toyota AE111 TBs, so I've got another TTT (Techno Toys Tuning) manifold to match it. The TBs are a better match for the 1.8 than the 101s I had before, and these already have trumpets and some basic filters as well as the fuel rail, injectors etc with them.

I'll have a go at mocking them up when the car gets back. Also managed to get hold of a few more bits including the Bride seats I had before, so at least they can just get chucked back in and I know they fit perfectly and work well.

Also stumbled upon a new car ... not exactly planned, and it takes my MX5 count back up to 4 but this one works and was the right price so at least I've got something to trundle around in for a bit.

Nothing exciting, just a fairly standard 1990 V Limited but it has 11 months MOT and from a blast around the lanes tonight the engine pulls really well and everything does what it's supposed to. As it's on the road already I can spend a bit of time tidying it as I go, and give it some use while the other one is being worked on.

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